Portable electronic apparatus with improved audio quality through a curved and sloped surface of a housing

ABSTRACT

A portable electronic apparatus includes a housing and an output device configured to output sound. The output device is disposed on a surface on an inside of a slope disposed on a lower surface of the housing, the slope resulting in the housing being opened in a predetermined direction. The slope forms a space between the slope and a mounting surface on which the housing is placed. The surface on the inside of the slope includes a curved surface. The curved surface may be concavely curved relative to the bottom surface of the housing. The electronic apparatus may also include an input device, and the output device may be disposed on a side forward of the input device.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2006-247234 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Sep. 12,2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to electronic apparatuses and,more particularly, to an electronic apparatus that can provide userswith good quality sound when a speaker or the like that outputs sound isdisposed on a lower surface of the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Notebook personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “notebook PCs”)and other portable electronic apparatuses are lately in widespread use.Such portable electronic apparatuses very often include a speaker foroutputting sound. The speaker is typically mounted at differentlocations.

For example, an apparatus including a speaker disposed in a cabinet isknown. In this known apparatus, in order to output sound in a low pitchregion, the cabinet is disposed movably in housing between a firstposition, at which the cabinet is stowed away in place in the housing,and a second position, at which the cabinet is withdrawn from thehousing. When the cabinet is withdrawn from the housing to the secondposition, the cabinet forms a predetermined space below the speaker.(See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-119779.) From adesign viewpoint, the speaker may be disposed on a lower surface of thehousing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an arrangement of a notebook PC, in which a speaker is disposed on alower surface thereof, however, the sound outputted from the speaker ismuffled because of no gap available between the lower surface and a PCmounting surface. It is therefore difficult to provide users with soundwith a sufficiently good quality.

The present invention addresses the above-identified, and other problemsassociated with known apparatuses and it is desirable to provide theuser with good quality sound when a speaker or other type of deviceoutputting sound is disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided aportable electronic apparatus (for example, a notebook PC 10 shown inFIG. 1) including a speaker (for example, a speaker unit 25 shown inFIG. 5) outputting sound.

The speaker is disposed on an inner surface (for example, a curvedsurface 53 shown in FIG. 5) of a slope (for example, a slope 51 shown inFIG. 5) included in a lower surface of housing (for example, secondhousing 12 shown in FIG. 5).

The slope results in the housing being opened in a predetermineddirection (for example, in a forward direction), thereby allowing thehousing to form a space between the housing and a housing mountingsurface (for example, a mounting surface 52 shown in FIG. 5).

The portable electronic apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention can provide the user with good quality sound when thespeaker or the like that outputs sound is disposed on the lower surfaceof the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a notebook PC according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the notebook PC;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the notebook PC;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing housing of the notebook PC;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the housing of thenotebook PC;

FIGS. 6A through 6D are views illustrating detailed arrangements near aspeaker; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing housing of a notebook PC accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of the embodiments according tothe present invention. This description is intended to ensure that theembodiments according to the present invention conform to thespecification and drawings therein. The embodiments may include thosewhich have the constituents of the present invention which are not shownin the specification or the drawings therein. This does not necessarilymean that such embodiments do not correspond to the constituents of thepresent invention. Conversely, even though some embodiments may bewritten as conforming to the constituents of the present invention, itdoes not necessarily mean that such embodiments do not conform to otherconstituents than the constituents.

Specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will bedescribed in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a notebook PC according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Descriptions given hereunder are based on the viewpoint of a useroperating the notebook PC unless otherwise specified. Referring to FIG.1, a left-and-right direction is crosswise direction; a front side isthe side of a touch pad 23; a rear side is the side of a connectionportion 13; a back surface of first housing 11 is upper surface; and aback surface of second housing 12 is lower surface.

Referring to FIG. 1, a notebook PC 10 is a foldable configurationincluding first housing 11 and second housing 12 that are connected by aconnection 13 that includes a hinged structure journaled by a singleshaft. FIG. 1 shows a condition, in which the first housing 11 and thesecond housing 12 are open to an angle of about 150 degrees via theconnection 13. The first housing 11 includes a display 21 disposed at acenter thereof. The display 21 shows an image or the like.

The second housing 12 includes a keyboard 22 disposed on an uppersurface thereof in the rear side. The second housing 12 further includesa touch pad 23 and two click buttons 24A, 24B disposed thereon. Thetouch pad 23 serving as a pointing device is disposed on the front sideof the keyboard 22. The click buttons 24A, 24B are disposed on the frontside of the touch pad 23. The keyboard 22, the touch pad 23, and theclick buttons 24A, 24B accept operation by the user.

A speaker unit 25 having therein a speaker 25A is disposed on an insideat the front left side of the second housing 12. Further, a speaker unit26 having therein a speaker 26A is disposed on an inside at the frontright side of the second housing 12. Arrangements of the speaker units25, 26 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 and5.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the notebook PC 10 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows the notebook PC 10 in a closed position.

Referring to FIG. 2, the second housing 12 of the notebook PC 10includes a speaker grille 41 formed in a lower surface thereof. Thespeaker grille 41 is disposed at a position that corresponds to thespeaker unit 26. The speaker grille 41 has a plurality of openings foroutputting sound outputted from the speaker 26A to an externalenvironment of the second housing 12. Similarly, a speaker grille 42 isdisposed at a position corresponding to the speaker unit 25.Specifically, the notebook PC 10 has the speaker grilles 41, 42 disposedon the lower surface thereof that is invisible from the user during use.This adds to extra design value.

The sound outputted from the speaker 26A of the speaker unit 26 passesthrough the speaker grille 41 and is outputted to the externalenvironment of the second housing 12. The sound outputted from thespeaker 25A of the speaker unit 25, on the other hand, passes throughthe speaker grille 42 and is outputted to the external environment ofthe second housing 12.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view showing the notebook PC 10 shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a condition, in which the first housing 11 and the secondhousing 12 are open to an angle of about 150 degrees via the connection13.

Referring to FIG. 3, the second housing 12 includes a slope 51 disposedon the lower surface at the front side thereof. The slope 51 has athickness that is varied gradually from a thickness Hr on the rear sideof the second housing 12 to a thickness Hf that corresponds to athickness at the front side (width of a front surface 27) thinner thanthe thickness Hr. The slope 51 and a mounting surface 52 of the secondhousing 12 form a space therebetween, so that the second housing 12 isopen in the front direction. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the slope51 includes a curved surface 53 that is concavely curved relative to thelower surface (bottom surface) of the second housing 12. The speakerunit 25 is disposed on the inside of the curved surface 53.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the second housing 12.

The second housing 12 of FIG. 4 is shown so as to be seen through forconvenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 4, the slope 51, which extends from the front surface27 of the second housing 12 to the lower surface, forms the curvedsurface 53 that is a downward facing concave curvature from the frontside to the rear side of the second housing 12. The curved surface 53,together with the mounting surface 52 of the second housing 12, forms apredetermined space therebetween. Further, the speaker unit 25 and thespeaker unit 26 are disposed on the curved surface 53 inside the slope51 on corresponding sides thereof.

Referring next to FIG. 5, the arrangements of the speaker unit 25 willbe described in detail below. FIG. 5 is a left side cross-sectional viewshowing the second housing 12.

The speaker unit 25 shown in FIG. 5 includes the speaker 25A, a rubbercover 61, and a fixing bracket 62. As shown in FIG. 5, the curvedsurface 53 on the inside of the slope 51 has protrusions 63, 64. Thespeaker 25A surrounded by the rubber cover 61 is disposed on theprotrusions 63, 64. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the speaker 25A isinclined at an angle of 14 degrees relative to the mounting surface 52.The inclined angle of the speaker 25A is not, however, limited to 14degrees.

The fixing bracket 62, which is in contact with the speaker 25A at apoint a, is placed over the speaker 25A. The fixing bracket 62 issecured to the second housing 12 with screws 65, 66. This arrangementprevents the speaker 25A from moving upwardly. Since the speaker 25A issurrounded by the rubber cover 61 and covered with the fixing bracket 62on a back side thereof, the sound outputted from the speaker 25A can beprevented from being diffused in the back side or around the speaker25A. Further, the speaker 25A is held in position at a point, instead ofa surface, by the fixing bracket 62. This effectively suppressesoccurrence of, what is called, chattering.

The sound outputted from the speaker 25A passes through the speakergrille 42 as shown by arrows. The sound is then reflected off themounting surface 52 and the curved surface 53 before being outputted inthe direction of the user at the front side.

A specific effect can be given to sound quality by changing an angle anddistance of reflection of the sound outputted, which is achieved bychanging an angle of inclination of the speaker 25A or a curvature orshape of the curved surface 53. Accordingly, it is preferable that anarrangement be made in which the angle of inclination of the speaker 25Aor part or all of the curvature of the curved surface 53 is changedaccording to the sound quality of the sound outputted from the speaker25A. This allows an effective output sound to be produced according tothe sound quality.

As described heretofore, the sound outputted from the speaker 25A ismore reliably outputted toward the front of the notebook PC 10 when thespeaker unit 25 is disposed on the curved surface 53 of the slope 51disposed on the lower surface of the second housing 12 that is open tothe front and forms a space between the second housing 12 and themounting surface 52. As a result, the notebook PC 10 can provide theuser at the front of the notebook PC 10 with a good quality sound havinga sufficiently large volume and giving the user realistic sensation.

Additionally, the notebook PC 10 has the speaker unit 25 disposed on thelower surface of the second housing 12. Accordingly, the user can listento sound without having to open the notebook PC 10. The user may, forexample, want to listen to music by starting the PC in an instant startmode using an instant start mode switch (not shown) disposed on a sidesurface of the second housing 12. In such cases, therefore, the user canenjoy listening to music by performing a simple operation without havingto open the foldable notebook PC 10.

It is to be noted that the speaker unit 26 is configured in the samefashion as the speaker unit 25 and disposed on the curved surface 53.Detailed descriptions of the speaker unit 26 will be omitted.

Referring next to FIGS. 6A through 6D, the speaker 25A covered with therubber cover 61 will be described in detail below.

FIG. 6A is a view showing the speaker 25A covered with the rubber cover61 as viewed from the side of the mounting surface 52 of FIG. 5. FIG. 6Bis a front view showing the speaker 25A covered with the rubber cover 61as viewed from an arrow C in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a side elevational viewshowing the speaker 25A covered with the rubber cover 61 as viewed froman arrow B in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view taken alongline A-A of FIG. 6A.

Referring to FIG. 6D, a space is formed between a surface of the rubbercover 61 on the front side of the speaker 25A, that is, a mountingsurface 71 disposed on the protrusion 63 or 64 of FIG. 5, and a frontsurface 72 of the speaker 25A covered with the rubber cover 61.

In the foregoing descriptions, the speaker units 25, 26 are disposed onends of both sides of the curved surface 53 of the slope 51. It is to benoted, however, that the speaker units 25, 26 do not have to be disposedon the ends, as long as the units 25, 26 are disposed on the left andright sides.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing housing including a keyboard of anotebook PC according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 7, like reference numerals denote like elements in FIG. 4.

A notebook PC 100 shown in FIG. 7 includes housing 101 that includes akeyboard thereon. The housing 101 includes a slope 102 disposed on aleft end thereof and a slope 103 disposed on a right end thereof suchthat part of a front surface 101A of the housing 101 is open to thefront. A space is formed between the slope 102 and a mounting surface 52and the slope 103 and the mounting surface 52.

A speaker unit 25 is disposed on a curved surface 104 on the inside ofthe slope 102. A speaker unit 26 is disposed on a curved surface 105 onthe inside of the slope 103.

Sound outputted from a speaker 25A of the speaker unit 25 is reflectedoff not only the mounting surface 52 and a curved surface 106 on anoutside of the slope 102, but also a left side surface 107 adjacent to aportion of the front surface 101A of the housing 101 not opening to thefront, so that the sound is outputted to a front left direction.Similarly, sound outputted from a speaker 26A of the speaker unit 26 isreflected off not only the mounting surface 52 and a curved surface 108on an outside of the slope 103, but also a right side surface 109adjacent to the portion of the front surface 101A of the housing 101 notopening to the front, so that the sound is outputted to a front rightdirection.

As described in the foregoing, in the notebook PC 100 according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, the soundoutputted from the speaker unit 25 disposed on the left of the housing101 is outputted in the front left direction, while the sound outputtedfrom the speaker unit 26 disposed on the right of the housing 101 isoutputted in the front right direction. The user located at the front ofthe notebook PC 100 can therefore listen to a more stereo-like sound.

In the second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 7,the slopes 102, 103 are disposed on ends of both sides at the front sideof the housing 101. It should, however, be noted that the slopes 102,103 do not have to be disposed on the ends, as long as the slopes 102,103 are disposed on the left and right sides at the front side.

In the embodiments of the present invention as described heretofore,each of the slopes 51, 102, 103 is formed as a curved surface. Theslopes 51, 102, 103 may nonetheless be formed as a flat surface. Or, theleft side surface 107 may be formed as a curved surface continuing intothe curved surface 106, and the right side surface 109 may be formed asa curved surface continuing into the curved surface 108.

It is to be further noted that the present invention is applicable to,in addition to the notebook PC, personal computers of a type other thanthe notebook, portable telephones, portable audio players, and relatedelectronic apparatuses.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described heretofore, but also encompasses those changesfalling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising: a housing including anupper surface; a flat lower surface substantially parallel to a mountingsurface whereon the housing is placed and substantially parallel to theupper surface; and a sloped surface extending between the flat lowersurface and the upper surface; and an output device configured to outputsound, the output device being disposed on the sloped surface, and thesloped surface forming a space between the housing and the mountingsurface, wherein the sloped surface includes a curved surface, and thecurved surface includes one or more openings for transmitting soundoutputted by the output device.
 2. The portable electronic apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the curved surface is configured toreflect sound emitted by the output device and transmitted through theone or more openings.
 3. The portable electronic apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein portions of the curved surface between adjacentopenings reflect the reflected sound.
 4. An electronic apparatus,comprising: a housing including an upper surface; a flat bottom surfacesubstantially parallel to a mounting surface whereon the housing isplaced and substantially parallel to the upper surface; and an inclinedsurface extending between the flat bottom surface and the upper surface;and an output device disposed inside the housing, the output deviceoutputting sound, wherein the output device is disposed on the inclinedsurface; and wherein the inclined surface includes a curved surface thatis concavely curved relative to the bottom surface of the housing, andthe curved surface includes one or more openings for transmitting soundoutputted by the output device.
 5. The electronic apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the inclined surface results in the housing beingopened in a predetermined direction; and wherein the inclined surfaceforms a space between the inclined surface and a mounting surfacewhereon the housing is placed.
 6. The electronic apparatus according toclaim 5, further comprising: an input device disposed on a side of anupper surface of the housing, wherein the output device is disposed on aside forward of the input device; and wherein the inclined surfaceresults in the housing being open in a forward direction.
 7. Theportable electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the curvedsurface is configured to reflect sound emitted by the output device andtransmitted through the one or more openings.
 8. The portable electronicapparatus according to claim 7, wherein portions of the curved surfacebetween adjacent openings reflect the reflected sound.
 9. A portableelectronic apparatus, comprising: a housing including a front sidefacing toward a user of the electronic apparatus and a rear side facingaway from the user of the electronic apparatus; and an output deviceconfigured to output sound, the output device being disposed on asurface on an inside of a slope disposed on a lower surface of thehousing, the slope resulting in the housing being opened in apredetermined direction, and the slope forming a space between the slopeand a mounting surface whereon the housing is placed, wherein thesurface on the inside of the slope includes a curved surface; and thedistance between said mounting surface and the bottom surface of saidhousing becomes longer from the rear side to the front side of saidoutput device.